Lebanon walls off Palestinians. Their "leaders" agreed to become prisoners. Human rights groups silent.

This article, from The New Arab, drips with irony:

The first blocks of an isolation wall were erected around the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon this week, as a plan to build 'security' cordons and watchtowers around Ain al-Hilweh came into effect.

The security wall forms part of an agreement between Palestinian factions and the authorities in Lebanon in attempt to contain recent confrontations between Palestinians inside the camp and the Lebanese army, Lebanese and Palestinian officials claim.

The isolation wall is set to be completed within the next 15 months, according to a report by Lebanon-based al-Modon news site.

"Four towers will be constructed," Ain al-Hilweh's Hamas official Abu Ahmad Faysal earlier this month told Lebanon's Daily Star.

Despite being approved by Palestinian leadership in Ain al-Hilweh, located southeast of the port city of Sidon, for thousands living in the overcrowded camp life will only worsen.

Angry Palestinians took to social media to voice their frustration, dubbing the watchtower "the wall of shame" and comparing it to similar Israeli measures.

Those residing in the southern edge of the camp voiced complaints as the wall expected to sit a mere 3 metres away from their homes, according to reports on the construction plans.

They are literally building an open-air prison. The residents will not  be able to leave without specific permission.  Already Lebanese Palestinians are suffering from state-sanctioned discrimination, and now things will get worse.

But no one can blame Israel, so this is simply not news.

The Daily Star (Lebanon) shows that nothing has changed for Palestinians for over 65 years - their so-called "leaders" cut their own deals to help themselves and then claim that the people support them:

Following a meeting between the Army and Palestinian factions last Tuesday, a joint statement was issued by the head of the camp’s factions – the first of its kind concerning the proposed wall.

According to the statement, head of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon Gen. Sobhi Abu Arab confirmed that the people of Ain al-Hilweh would stand with the Army as construction works begin.

Following the meetings officials made it clear that there were no objections to the establishment of the wall.

Democratic Front Official Fouad Othman stressed that cooperation was ongoing in all aspects of the construction. “There is no Palestinian objection on the wall,” he told The Daily Star. “There are notes we had on portions of the wall, which we are working out in cooperation with the Army command.”

The lies are laughable, but they are enough to convince NGOs that there is nothing to see here - even as residents complain bitterly.

(h/t Mark)

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